Laser aiming device for weapon foregrip

ABSTRACT

A modular multi-accessory foregrip configured to mount on a rail on a weapon. The modular foregrip includes a grip assembly and a tang or center shaft. The grip assembly configured to be removably coupled with the tang. In some embodiments, the modular foregrip having a power supply disposed in the tang. In some embodiments, the grip assembly comprising two or more component grips, each with a different accessory. In some embodiments, one of the grips has a switch to control power in an accessory in that grip and a second switch to control power to an accessory in another grip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to weapon accessories. In particular, the present invention is directed to modular, electrically powered weapon accessories.

2. Description of the Related Art

Users of weapons have often found it convenient to attach accessories of various types to their weapons, particularly firearms. Such accessories include foregrips, laser sighting devices, flash lights (both navigation lights and tactical lights), and radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or receivers. Accessory rails mounted to a weapon make it easy to attach or remove accessories. These rails usually conform to a standard such as the Picatinny or Weaver standards to ensure that accessories made by different manufacturers can attach to the same rail.

Weapon users often have multiple accessories attached to their weapon. Presently, each accessory requiring electrical power has its own integral power supply. These redundant power supplies add unnecessary bulk and weight to the weapon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axonometric projection of a modular foregrip mounted on a weapon.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the modular foregrip and weapon.

FIG. 3A is an axonometric projection of an embodiment of the modular foregrip.

FIG. 3B is an exploded axonometric projection of the foregrip module embodiment of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a tang (or center module) of the modular foregrip.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a right panel grip of the modular foregrip.

FIG. 6 is an axonometric projection of an embodiment of the modular foregrip with an integral grip assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an axonometric projection of a modular foregrip 100 mounted on a weapon 102. Typically, the foregrip 100 mounts on an accessory rail attached to the underside of a barrel of a weapon 102. Alternatively, the foregrip 100 could mount to an accessory rail 106 attached to the side of the weapon 102.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the modular foregrip 100 mounted on the weapon 102. The modular foregrip 100 can be attached anywhere along the accessory rail 104 as convenient.

FIG. 3A is an axonometric projection of an embodiment of the modular foregrip 100. FIG. 3B is an exploded axonometric projection of the foregrip module 100 of FIG. 3A. The modular foregrip 100 comprises a tang 108 and a grip assembly 110. The tang 108 is sized and shaped to allow it to be disposed in a center cavity in the grip assembly 110. The tang 108 has a mount 122 on one end that allows it to removably couple with the accessory rail 104.

In other embodiments, the tang 108 does not have the mount 122 and thus cannot removably couple with the accessory rail 104. Such an embodiment would still be useful as a handheld device.

The grip assembly 110 includes one or more accessories. The one or more accessories may include a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter, a tactical flashlight, and a navigation flashlight. In the example of FIG. 3A, a first accessory 114 is a laser aiming device, and a second accessory 116 is a tactical flashlight. In the example of FIG. 3A, the accessories 114 and 116 are shown disposed near the top of the grip assembly 110 and near to the point where the modular foregrip 100 removably couples with the accessory rail 104. In other embodiments, the accessories 114 and 116 may be disposed near the bottom of the grip assembly 110. In yet other embodiments, the first accessory 114 may be disposed in the top portion of the grip assembly 110 and the second accessory 116 disposed in the bottom portion of the grip assembly 110, or vice versa.

The grip assembly 110 comprises a left grip 113 and a right grip 112, where left and right are determined relative to a line of sight running from the breach toward the muzzle of the weapon 102. Each component grip may have zero, one or more accessories. In other embodiments, the grip assembly 110 comprises a front grip and back grip, with the front grip closer to the muzzle of the weapon 102. In yet other embodiments, the grip assembly 110 comprises a top and bottom grip, with the top grip closer to the weapon 102. In yet other embodiments, the grip assembly 110 is an integral device and the accessories 112 and 114 are removably coupled with the grip assembly.

The modular foregrip 100 includes a butt plate 121 that is configured to securely hold the component grips together. The butt plate 121 is configured to engage with the tang 108 to hold the butt plate 121 in place relative to the tang 108, yet allow the user to easily remove the butt plate.

The modular foregrip 100 has an electrical power source 126, typically disposed in the tang 108. In other embodiments, the electrical power source 126 is disposed in the grip assembly 110. In some embodiments, the electrical power source 126 is a battery. In other embodiments, the electrical power source 126 is a capacitor or some other type of power supplying device.

Some accessories have a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism 120, but some accessories do not. Typically, each adjustment mechanism 120 on the same modular foregrip 100 is independent of other adjustment mechanisms 120. In the example of FIG. 3A, the first accessory 114 is depicted as a laser aimer and has a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism 120. The second accessory 116 is depicted as a flashlight and does not have an adjustment mechanism 120.

In some embodiments, one or more control switches 118 are disposed in the grip assembly 110. The control switches 117 and 118 control the flow of power to the accessories 114 and 116. In some embodiments, the control switches 117 and 118 are disposed on one side of the grip assembly 110. In some embodiments, the control switches 117 and 118 are disposed on the left side of the grip assembly 110. In other embodiments, the control switches 117 and 118 may be disposed on the front side of the grip assembly 110. In some embodiments, a first set of control switches 117 and 118 are disposed on one side of the gripe assembly 110 and a second set of control switches (not shown) are disposed on the opposite side of the grip assembly 110 in a mirror-image of the first set of control switches and perform the same functions.

In some embodiments, the modular foregrip 100 has a power port 119. The power port 119 is electrically coupled with the electrical power source 126. The power port 119 is configured to connect with an electrical jumper or pigtail in order to send electrical power to other accessories. These other accessories could be mounted on the same accessory rail 104 of the same weapon 102 that the modular foregrip 100 is currently mounted on. Alternatively, the other accessories could be on a different rail or not mounted on the weapon 102 at all.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the tang 108 (or center module). The tang 108 has a mount 122 that is configured to allow the tang 108 to be removably coupled to an accessory rail (e.g., accessory rail 104). A housing 124 is mechanically coupled with the mount 122. Typically, the mount 122 and the housing 124 are made of metal.

The tang 108 is configured to be removably attached to the grip assembly 110. Typically, the housing 124 has mounting mechanisms to hold the grip assembly to the tang 108. In some embodiments, the mount 122 has mounting mechanisms to hold the grip assembly 110 to the tang 108. The mounting mechanisms are configured to allow the grip assembly 110 to be held securely to the tang 108, but also allow a user to easily remove the grip assembly 110 from the tang 108. In some embodiments, the tang 108 is configured to removably couple to and securely hold a single component grip of a grip assembly 110. This allows a user to replace a first grip with a second grip while leaving a third grip coupled with the tang 108. Typically, the electric power source 126 is disposed in the housing 124.

A non-conductive sleeve 128 is disposed inside the housing 124, electrically insulating the electric power source 126 from the housing 124. Typically, the non-conductive sleeve is made of plastic, but may be made of some other material.

The tang 108 has a set of power contacts 130 disposed in the non-conductive sleeve 128. The set of power contacts 130 is electrically coupled with the power source 126. The set of power contacts 130 is positioned to contact a set of power pads (see FIG. 5, item 180) in the grip assembly 110 when the grip assembly 110 is coupled with the tang 108.

The tang 108 has a first set of signal contacts 132 and second set of signal contacts 134 disposed in the non-conductive sleeve 128. Both sets of signal contacts 132 and 134 are configured to provide signal paths through the tang 108. The first set of signal contacts 132 are positioned to contact a first set of signal pads 182 (see FIG. 5) in the grip assembly 110 when the grip assembly 110 (or a component grip in the grip assembly 110) is coupled with the tang 108. The second set of signal contacts 134 are positioned to contact a second set of signal pads 184 (see FIG. 5) in the grip assembly 110 when the grip assembly 110 (or a component grip in the grip assembly 110) is coupled with the tang 108. In some embodiments, the signal contacts in sets 132 and 134 are pogo pins disposed in holes traversing the tang 108.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the right panel grip 112, part of the grip assembly 110 in the modular foregrip 100. In the example of FIG. 5, the right panel grip 112 is part of an embodiment in which the grip assembly 110 is made of left and right panel grips. The grip assembly 110 would also include a mating left panel grip 113 that would be a substantially similar mirror image of the right panel grip 112, although typically with a different accessory. The right panel grip 112 comprises a panel body 172, one or more mechanical mounting mechanisms 172, and one or more accessories 174. The mechanical mounting mechanisms 172 are configured to enable the right panel grip 112 removably couple with the tang 108 and removably couple with the left panel grip 113.

A user may have possession of a kit comprising several right panel grips 112, each with a different accessory and several left panel grips 113 each with a different accessory. This kit will allow the user to combine one of the right panel grips 112 and one of the left panel grips 113 in different combinations. The kit may have a panel grip that does not have an accessory. A panel grip without an accessory is herein called a blank panel grip.

The right panel grip 112 has circuitry 178 disposed in a side of the right panel grip 112 that contacts the tang 108 when the right panel grip 112 is coupled with the tang 108. The circuitry 178 includes a set of power pads 180, a first set of signal pads 182, a second set of signal pads 184, and a remotely actuated switch 184. The set of power pads 180 is located within the right panel grip 112 so as to engage with the set of power contacts 130 on the tang 180 when the panel grip 112 is coupled with the tang 108. The set of power pads 180 is electrically coupled with the remotely actuated switch 186, which is electrically coupled with the accessory 174. The accessory 174 draws electrical power from the tang 108 through the set of power pads 180. The power flows from the power pads 180 through the remotely actuated switch 186 to the accessory 174. The remotely actuated switch 186 is configured to control the flow of power to the accessory 174, allowing power to flow or not to flow. The remotely actuated switch 186 is controlled by control signals applied to control leads of the remotely actuated switch 186. In some embodiments, the remotely actuated switch 186 is an electromechanical relay. In other embodiments, the remotely actuated switch 186 is a transistor.

A first switch (not shown) disposed in the panel body 172 is electrically coupled with the control leads of the remotely actuated switch 186. The first switch is configured to generate a control signal to operate the remotely actuated switch 186. The first set of signal pads 182 is also electrically coupled with the control leads of the remotely actuated switch 186. A second control signal may be received through the first set of signal pads 182. The second control signal originates in a switch disposed in the mating left panel grip (not shown). Thus the remotely actuated switch 186 may be operated either by the first control signal or the second control signal.

A second switch (not shown) disposed in the panel body 172 is electrically coupled with the second set of signal pads 184. The second switch 190 is configured to generate a third control signal. The second set of signal pads 184 is configured to carry the third control signal to the matching signal contacts 132 in the tang 108 which carries the third control signal to the opposite (left) panel grip. The third control signal operates a remotely actuated switch in the opposite panel grip that controls power to an accessory in the opposite panel grip.

FIG. 6 is an axonometric projection of an embodiment of the modular foregrip 100 with an integral grip assembly 110. The grip assembly 110 is configured to removably couple with the tang 108. In some embodiments, the accessories 114 and 116 are an integral part of the grip assembly 110. In other embodiments, the accessories 114 and 116 are configured to removably couple with the grip assembly 110.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A powered modular foregrip comprising: a tang configured to removably couple with an accessory rail; an electrical power source disposed in the tang; a first set of power contacts disposed in the tang; a first grip removably coupled with the tang; a first set of power pads disposed in the first grip, the first set of power pads configured to contact the first set of power contacts when the first grip is coupled with the tang; a first accessory disposed in the first grip, the first accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source; and a second grip removably coupled with the tang.
 2. The modular foregrip of claim 1 further comprising: a second set of power contacts disposed in the tang; a second set of power pads disposed in the second grip, the second set of power pads configured to contact the second set of power contacts when the second grip is coupled with the tang; and a second accessory disposed in the second grip, the second accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source.
 3. The modular foregrip of claim 2 wherein the first and second accessories are independently adjustable for windage and elevation.
 4. The modular foregrip of claim 2 wherein the second accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 5. The modular foregrip of claim 1 wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 6. The modular foregrip of claim 1, further comprising a butt plate removably coupled with the first and second grips, the butt plate configured to hold the first and second grips together.
 7. The modular foregrip of claim 1 further comprising a power port coupled with the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug.
 8. The modular foregrip of claim 2, further comprising: a first switch disposed in the first grip, the first switch configured to control power to the first accessory; and a second switch disposed in the second grip, the second switch configured to control power to the second accessory.
 9. The modular foregrip of claim 8, further comprising: a third switch disposed in the second grip, the third switch configured to control power to the first accessory; and a fourth switch disposed in the first grip, the fourth switch configured to control power to the second accessory.
 10. The modular foregrip of claim 9 wherein the first and third switch are similarly located on their respective grips, wherein the second and fourth switch are similarly located on their respective grips.
 11. The modular foregrip of claim 1, further comprising: a first switch coupled with the first grip, the first switch configured to generate a first control signal; a first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang; a first set of signal pads coupled with the first grip, the first set of signal pads configured to contact the first set of signal contacts, the first set of signal pads configured to receive a second control signal; and a first remotely actuated switch coupled with the first grip, the first remotely actuated switch configured to control power to the first accessory based on the first and second control signals.
 12. The modular foregrip of claim 11, further comprising: a second switch coupled with the first grip, the second switch configured to generate a third control signal; and a second set of signal pads coupled with the first grip, the second set of signal pads configured to contact a second set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the second set of signal pads configured to carry the third control signal.
 13. The modular foregrip of claim 12 further comprising: a third switch coupled with the second grip, the third switch configured to generate the second control signal; and a third set of signal pads coupled with the second grip, the second set of signal pads configured to contact the first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the third set of signal pads configured to carry the second control signal.
 14. The modular foregrip of claim 13 wherein the signal contacts are pogo pins.
 15. The modular foregrip of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery.
 16. The modular foregrip of claim 1 wherein the power source is a capacitor.
 17. A modular multi-accessory foregrip comprising: a center shaft configured to removably couple with an accessory rail; a grip assembly removably coupled with the center shaft; and a first accessory coupled with the grip assembly.
 18. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 17 further comprising an electrical power supply.
 19. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 18 wherein the electrical power supply is disposed in the center shaft.
 20. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 18 wherein the electrical power supply is disposed in the grip assembly.
 21. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 18, further comprising a power port connected to the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug.
 22. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 17 wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 23. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 17, further comprising a second accessory coupled with the grip assembly.
 24. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 23 wherein the first accessory and second accessory are independently adjustable for windage and elevation.
 25. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 23 wherein the second accessory is removably coupled with the grip assembly.
 26. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 17 wherein the first accessory is removably coupled with the grip assembly
 27. The multi-accessory foregrip of claim 17 wherein the center shaft is a hollow tang, wherein the grip assembly further comprises a first grip and a second grip, wherein the first grip is removably coupled with the center shaft and with the second grip, wherein the second grip is removably coupled with the center shaft and with the first grip.
 28. A powered foregrip tang comprising: a mount configured to removably couple to an accessory rail; a housing coupled to the mount; an electrical power source disposed within the housing; a mechanical mount coupled to the housing and configured to removably couple to a grip assembly; and a set of power contacts coupled to the housing and configured to contact a set of power pads in the grip assembly.
 29. The powered tang of claim 28, further comprising a power port connected to the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug.
 30. The powered tang of claim 28, further comprising a set of signal contacts penetrating through the tang, the set of signal contacts configured to contact with signal pads in the grip assembly and configured to carry signals from one part of the grip assembly to another part of the grip assembly.
 31. The powered tang of claim 30 wherein the set of signal contacts is a set of pogo pins.
 32. A panel grip assembly comprising: a first panel grip configured to removably couple to a tang; a second panel grip configured to removable couple with the tang; and a first accessory coupled with the first panel grip.
 33. The panel grip assembly of claim 32, further comprising a first set of power pads in the first panel grip configured to contact a first set of power contacts in the tang.
 34. The panel grip assembly of claim 32, further comprising a first set of signal pads in the first panel grip configured to contact a first set of signal contacts in the tang.
 35. The panel grip assembly of claim 32, further comprising: a second accessory coupled to the second panel grip; a second set of power pads in the second panel grip configured to contact a second set of power contacts in the tang.
 36. The panel grip assembly of claim 35 wherein the accessories are each one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 37. The panel grip assembly of claim 32 wherein the second panel grip is a blank grip without an electrically powered accessory.
 38. A panel grip comprising: a panel grip body configured to removably couple to a tang; a set of power pads disposed in the panel grip body configured to contact power contacts on the tang when the panel grip body is coupled to the tang; and an accessory coupled with the panel grip body and coupled with the set of power pads, the accessory configured to draw electrical power from the tang.
 39. The panel grip of claim 38 wherein the accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 40. The panel grip of claim 38, further comprising: a first switch coupled with the panel grip body, the first switch configured to generate a first control signal; a first set of signal pads coupled with the panel grip body, the first set of signal pads configured to contact a first set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the first set of signal pads configured to receive a second control signal; and a remotely actuated switch coupled with the panel grip body, the remotely actuated switch configured to control power to the accessory based on the first and second control signals.
 41. The panel grip of claim 40, further comprising: a second switch coupled with the grip panel grip body, the second switch configured to generate a third control signal; and a second set of signal pads coupled with the panel grip body, the second set of signal pads configured to contact a second set of signal contacts disposed in the tang, the second set of signal pads configured to carry the third control signal.
 42. The panel grip of claim 38, further comprising a first switch disposed in the panel grip body, the first switch configured to control power to the accessory.
 43. A powered modular handheld device comprising: a tang; an electrical power source disposed in the tang; a first set of power contacts disposed in the tang; a second set of power contacts disposed in the tang; a first grip removably coupled with the tang; a first accessory disposed in the first grip, the first accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source through the first set of power contacts; and a second grip removably coupled with the tang.
 44. The powered modular handheld device of claim 43, further comprising a second accessory disposed in the second grip, the second accessory configured to draw electrical power from the electrical power source through the second set of power contacts.
 45. The powered modular handheld device of claim 44 wherein the first accessory is adjustable for windage and elevation independent of the second accessory.
 46. The powered modular handheld device of claim 44 wherein the accessories are each one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 47. The powered modular handheld device of claim 43 wherein the first accessory is one of a visible laser aimer, an infrared laser aimer, a dual visible and infrared laser aimer, a flash light, an infrared illuminator a radio transmitter and a navigation light.
 48. The powered modular handheld device of claim 43, further comprising a power port coupled with the electrical power source, the power port accessible to a mating external power plug.
 49. The powered modular handheld device of claim 43 wherein the first grip comprises a first switch that controls power to the first grip and comprises a second switch that controls power to the second grip.
 50. The powered modular handheld device of claim 49 wherein the second grip comprises a third switch that controls power to the first grip and comprises a fourth switch that controls power to the second grip.
 51. The powered modular handheld device of claim 50 wherein the first and third switch are similarly located on their respective grips, wherein the second and fourth switch are similarly located on their respective grips.
 52. The modular foregrip of claim 1 wherein the second grip is a blank grip. 